Photos

The first few photos below show real children and Moms receiving gifts from volunteers for the USPS ® program on Christmas Eve, 2004.

Photos further down this page show volunteers from the public reading children’s letters to Santa.

Until 2008, the Postal Service ® left children’s home addresses on their letters, and volunteers could deliver gifts directly to families’ front doors. It was a moving experience; the photos of families receiving gifts below were taken by volunteer Patrick Reynolds.

In 2008, the US Postal Service ® began removing children’s home addresses to protect their privacy; since that Christmas, only postal workers may deliver gifts to families.

We hope the media will be permitted to follow postal workers as they deliver gifts from volunteers. For now, these are the best photos we have of children and families receiving gifts.

Journalists may click here to download additional art and a package of broadcast quality HD video B-roll. Please credit BeAnElf.org if photos or video are used.

When clickable, the photos below link to a high resolution file of that photo.